Truck hitch



May 24, 1949. E. F. ANDREWS TRUCK HITCH Filed July 51, 1947 oooQQo.

"IDLE.

A a Word ATTORNEY.

Patented May 24, 1949 TRUCK HITCH Edward F. Andrews, Youngstown, Ohio,assignor to Ihe Miller Spreader Corporation,

Youngstown, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 31, 1947,Serial No. 765,214

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a hitch and more particularly to a hitch whichmay be conveniently attached to axle and spring constructions of trucksso that spreader boxes and the like may be attached thereto.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a hitch for atruck which may be bolted to conventional truck axle and springconstructions of varying sizes and shapes to provide convenient meansfor the attachment of spreader boxes and other similar devices.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a hitch applicableto truck and spring axle constructions and capable of manual adjustmentas to size and shape prior to and during its application to a truckspring and axle construction.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a manuallyadjustable hitch which may be preset as to height and width tofacilitate the installation of the same on various truck spring and axleconstructions.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a hitch fortruck rear axle c'onstructions providing several alternate locations fora hitching member to which various devices such as spreader boxes andthe like may be attached.

The hitch shown and described herein comprises an improvement over thatshown in my copending patent application on Adjustable truck hitch,Serial No. 753,614, as filed June 10, 1947, now Patent No. 2,456,359,dated Dec. 14, 1948, particularly in that the hitch herein disclosed maybe manually preset as to effective height and width for application toany and all truck axle and spring constructions and without the use ofvarious blocking or spacing devices such as are required in theheretofore referred to copendin patent application.

It is well known in the art that various spreader boxes and the like areused in connection with trucks and the like for road building activitiesand that it is therefore highly desirable to pro vide simple andefficient means by which the spreader boxes may be conveniently attachedto the trucks so that they may be operated in conjunction therewith asin a paving operation.

Various forms of hitches have been proposed,

the majority of which are applicable only to oertain kinds and types oftruck rear axle and spring constructions, and a further object of thepresent invention is, therefore, to provide a universally adaptabletruck hitch.

The present disclosure relates to a truck hitchwhich can be adjustedboth with respect to Width and height, locked in adjusted position andthen bolted to the rear axle and spring assembly of a truck to provide atransversely positioned hitching member disposed beneath the truck axleto which a spreader box or similar device may be conveniently attached.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a rear view of a portion of a truck rear axle frame andspring construction and illustrates the positioning of the truck hitchthereon. Line 2-2 on Figure 1 indicates the view in Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a cross section of a portion of a a truck rear axle andspring construction showing the positioning of the truck hitch thereon.

Figure 3 is a side view of the truck hitch with parts broken away andparts in cross section and on an enlarged scale with respect to Figures1 and 2. Line 4-4 on Figure 3 indicates the View of Figure 4. V

Figure 4 is an end view taken on line 4--4 of Figure 3.

By referring to the drawings and Figures 1 and 2 in particular it willbe seen that a portion of a rear axle housing I!) of a truck has beendisclosed enclosing a section of the rear axle H. A wheel I2 is aflixedto the axle II and nor- 1 mally supports the same in elevated relationto a supporting surface. The truck frame is indicated by the numeral I3and a spring 14 is positioned on the axle housing Ill and afiixedthereto by means of inverted U-shaped bolts I5 and to the frame I 3 ofthe truck by means 0f shackles 16.

As disclosed in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings the main truck spring [4is augmented with a secondary helper or overload spring I! which for allintents and purposes becomes a portion of the main spring M as it merelyincreases the efiective height thereof over which the inverted U-shapedbolts I 5 extend. As is customary in truck rear axle and springconstructions, the lowermost ends of the inverted U-shaped bolts l5 passthrough openings in and are affixed to saddle caps ill by means of aplurality of nuts l9 engaging the inverted U-shaped bolts 15.

In order that the device may be positioned beneath the axle housing I Iso that a spreader box or similar piece of equipment may be attachedthereto, a truck hitch is affixed to each of the spring and axleassemblies l0 and I4, respectively, one on each side of the differentialcase of the rear axle housing 10, so that oppositely disposed hitchesmay be provided. Each of the truck hitches comprises an identicallyformed structure capable of slicing-preset as to width and height "andthen-bblteddirectly to the spring and axle assemblies.

As illustrated in the drawings, the truck hitch will be seen to comprisea pair of spaced, vertically positioned channels and 2|, respectively,amxed at their lowermost ends-by a pairiof. horizontal rails 22 and 23spacedwith-respecttoone another by means of a pair of webs 2d-and 25.The webs 24 are spaced vertically witharcspect to one another andaflixed to the vertical channel 21 and the spaced, horizontal rails 22and '23." The webs 25 are spaced vertically with respect to one anotherand arecapable of telescopically engaging the spaced webs 24 andafllxedto, the channel 20. The vertical channel! -12 l; is .aweldedeto thespaced rails 22zand 23 :and is,:-therefore,.:always in fixed positionwith respect thereto; "The vertical channel 120 and:itsclnterconnectedy. web-like extensions 25 are: slidably. :dlsposedbetween. the rails 22 and123 and'zretainedltherein .by reason of a crosspiece ZBBImXEd to-nthe lowermost: end

thereof and slidablyzengagingthe bottoms of the spaced rails 22-and '23.

A plurality of openings 21 are formed in1-tl1e spaced rails'22:andzzsnso;thatbolt means 28 may be positioned therethrough ,toiclampthe rails 22 andz23 against-thesides of theivertical channel 120-andhenceloch it =in discharge :position with:respectirtheretofi1.It wlllithus be seen that the relative positioning-and horizontal spacing ofthe vertical channels 20 and:2l.may be readily varied to suit-theparticular width-.iof the axle and spring- .mounting assembliescountered.

In order-that: the-device mayebe adjusted for various vertical heightsfaxle .-andspring cornbinations, each'oi! the vertlca-bchannelsrw and;2 lis providedwith a" Teheaded extension piece 29 and 30, respectively, theT heads thereoivbeing indicated by the numerals-31- and 32,respectively. Each of the T-headed extensions 291andi 3ll lies withinthe respective;.channelsrzllrand :21 and is vertically movable thereinand is normally held in desired relation with respectatheretoby means ofpairs of bolts. 3-3.,andaM,-respectlvely: Bars '35 r ent and 3Bweldedlto the outerlsurfaces'of the channels .20 and :2|-,-.-respectively provlde .meansfor holding the b01tSii33 and 34niromrotation when the nuts thereon are: tightened.

The particular: arrangement foil-the vertically adjustableT.-headedemeinber;-" 29. is best shown in Figures 3: anddot-thedrawingsand by referring thereto it will be seen that the T heads3| and 32 are illustrated: in .elevatedrelation iwith respect to theuppermost endspfi the vertical channels 20 and 21therebyicorrespondingiwiththe showing in Figures Land 21in whichthemainspring l4 and helperxspring' I?! areJiIluStratedzand theeffective height oi'thespri-ngs thereby; increased.

By. againref erringeto'tFigures 1 and 2 "of. the drawings it will1181188611; thatpairszof 813116.873? and 38, threaded at theiriupperrandulowermost ends, are positioned -vertlcallywthrough openingsformed in the ii-heads 31 and 32 of the -T,headed extensions1;29 randf130: so that the pairs" of studs 31 and;38 extend-;upwardly. alongside-the springs l4- and I1. The iuppermost'endsfor the. pairs of studs31 and;,38.sarecpassedzthrough. brackets: 39 and =60,respectivelyiz'lwhichi extend acrossgrthe upper surface otthehelperspring; I! A luralit of nutsf ll-and: 42:are :lmsiticnedit nxt e pp andlower endsiof ithespairsl; oft-studs 31 and 38,

- housing l0 and saddle caps l8 as well as the inverted U-shaped bolts[5 heretofore mentioned. It will thus be seen that when various springarrangements are encountered in truck rear axle constructions, the truckhitch may be adjusted vertically by moving the T-headed members 28 and36 with respect to the channels and 25 in which they are positioned bysimply replacing the bolts 33 and 34 so that they register in any one ofa number of'alternate openings formed in the T-headed members 29.and 30.

The formation of the device is convenient, and easy horizontaladjustment as well as convenient vertical adjustment readily adapts it.touniversal application on truck rear axle and spring combinations ofvariouszsizes and shapes.

It also provides for the desirable positioning of the spaced rails 22and 23 with respect to the rear axle housing Ill so that hitch pinsrlil. may. be positioned parallel with the axlehousing l0 andubeneath thesame and in oppositely disposed relation. The spaced rails 22 and*23 areprovided with a. plurality of openings .21 asheretofore mentioned andthe hitch pins 53 may: be positioned-many of the several openingstherebyproviding flexibility oi contact points for spreader boxesand-the like to be attached to the truck hitch.

It Will thus be seen that a simple and eiiicient truck hitch has beendisclosed which may be mass produced on a-commonpattern and individuallyadjusted to individual truck rear spring and axle constructions forapplication thereto at the time of such application. It willufurtherbeseen that once in position on-the truck,.as heretofore described,pairs of truck hitches provide desirably located hitch means to whichspreader boxes and the like can be readily attached and detached.

Having thusdescribed .my invention, what I claim is:

A hitch for attachment to the rear axle and spring assembly of a truckand including a horizontal body member-displaced longitudinally of saidtruck, a pair of longitudinally displaced ver- REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing referencesare of record in the file of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,865,365 Foote June 28, .19321,955,649 Nuccio Apr. .17., 1934 2,397,001 Goodwin Mar. 19,.19462,403,820 Miller Jul 9, 1946

